Tuesday, November 25, 2008

got another one for ps/2 port..

I found another ps/2 convert from my dad's "treasure box". Since I'm not sure what interface is for John Selmys' keyboard, i am not gonnna buy a adapter before john show it to me...

anyway, here is the photo of the ps/2 adapter..

Sunday, November 23, 2008

ops.. not the right connector..

i just had a closer look of the ps2 keyboard converter.. just found that it's not the one we're looking for. it's for old computer to use ps2 kb.. so.. i guess i'll need to search my house again.. or buy one from store.. @@

Friday, November 21, 2008

Linux Games Instead of Emulator

Linux games or Emulator
Nestor I agree with you, its better to use Linux games instead of a emulator.

PC monitor or TV?
In my opinion the pc monitor is better than the TV, because of the resolution and because is going to be easier to plug and handle with the computer.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

FOUND IT!!! PS2, DIN-5 converter!!



I was looking for an old PS2, DIN-5 converter/adapter. I couldn't find any in my house. My dad told me he don't have it. When I have just decided give up on it and move on in search of smaller soldering tool, I found it in my dad's mini tool box. YEAH!!!

I knew it, i knew my dad must keey it some where, hehe... Isn't it good to have a dad that loves old technology? (yeah, old tech, not new tech, hehe..) Too bad that someone took my old ps2 keyboard, otherwise, we can start by the way.

Anyway, here is the photo of it. Hope this 15 years old connector still works..

Arcade Project Update

Here is few update on our arcade project...

Update
First, We may use open source, free Linx games instead of arcade roms with emulator. Since it's more suitable for the LUX source and more games variety, flexibility. And the best thing is license.

Second, instead of using any serial port, paralle port to connect controllers. We plan to use keyboard and solider controllers wires to a keyboard. Thank you John Selmys for donating a keyboard to us. ^^

Third, we may put a ear phone plug and volumn control for the sound system. This will reduce the distraction if we put our arcade in a PC lab.

Discussions:
PC monitor or TV?
Now we have not deside which one to use yet. I believe they both have their advantages and dis-advantages..

PC monitor:
= Adv: better resoulution, easier to configurate
= DisAdv: need hardware installation, less "arcade feel"
TV:
= Adv: more arcade feel
= DisAdv: need to buy hardware to support TV dual to different refreshing frequency

Nameing the Arcade Machine
Then it's the arcade name. There are 9 names proposed from our class and professors. Please go to our talk page to vote for the name. You can have maximum 5 vote for any name, but only one for each name.

Name the Arcade Machine

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

It's time to actually face the problem...

I'm so excited about getting this arcade today. But then I was in deep thought also... Now, we got to box, it's time to start working on it.

I check out the hardware part that we're gonna connect to. Prof. Michal Heidenreich gave me some ideas how to change the monitor. And he suggests me to change all those screws also. Yeah.. those doesn't cost much, few dollars, i think. They're all rusted now and I would love to have some shiny screws in there. We were still thinking if we should use the original arcade monitor or to use a PC monitor. After I looked at the cabinet, I think it's easier to change the hardware instead of put an extra video card and configure a lower resolution, frequency monitor. And I've seen soem emulator has a function to make PC mointor look blur, make it looks like an arcade mointor.

Then next part is controller... 22 wires... sigh.. because it has 2 set of controllers, each set include 6 buttons, 4 way joy stick(means 4 switches/buttons) and one start button. So, it's 22 buttons in total. I was thinking to use game port, cos it's the usual way. But 22 wires... wow... So, the solution should be either using paralell port or solder wire into a keyboard. But if you have a look of those big desktop keyboard button soldering seems quite hard. Maybe some 10,20 years old key board uses lower end technology, which has a bigger switch and would be able to do soldiering. It's the best way to do, since all we have to do is taking care hardware part. And most emulation already support keyboard key mapping. And there are 3 wires for the coin box also. Looks like we'll go for keyboard for sure.

And the least thing is the speaker, I'm not sure how arcade sound system works. I assume it's analogue signal. Dose it needs a amplifier? And we're thinking to have ear phone jack on the arcade box some where to reduce the arcade noise in the lab. It could be easier to do with an computer speaker since some cheap $20 speakers support earphone output and sounds are amazing!

But of course, here are some good news... We may able to get a designer to handle the art work.. great! I was thinking to do the art work myself, haha.. good, so we can concentrate on the machine.

But anyway, time seems to be limited. One month before final exam, then it's holiday, and next semester will be more intense. I would like to work harder on the arcade project and leave less work for next semester. And I'm planning to write a little open source iPhone interactive game during semester break.

Hope we can make this arcade box running successfully. ^^

Finally.. the Arcade Box, ta ta.... ^^






YEAH!!! Finally, we've gotta it!!! oh.. yeah!!! I've got some photos about this trip.

First, Thank you Evan Weaver for donating $200 for purchasing this arcade box. And thank you Prof. Murray Saul for arrange this delivery. And also Varinder, Milton and Mohak.






Monday, November 3, 2008

Arcade Box

I am very happy with the arcade box, Nestor got for us !!!! Now that we have the hardware, the arcade project is not more only a idea, it is a reality! I hope we can make a good work on it with the collaboration of all the LUX students.

Checking out the arcade cabinet... ^^



















Today, Milton, Mohak and myself went to check out the cabinet we're gonna get... not bad for its price. Everything works perfectly. ^^ The bonus is it has 6 buttons!!! great! So, there are no limit on what game we're gonna put.. althougth we may not successfully obtain a license for some new games like street fighter, but it's still a good news. The downside is the controller panel is cracked, we'll need to fix it. But.. anyway, it's great. ^^